Image forming apparatus and air intake and exhaust system

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a dehumidifier in which a dehumidified air flow path and an exhaust heat air flow path are formed. A cooling-and-dehumidifying member is positioned in the dehumidified air flow path and a heat exhaust member is positioned in the exhaust heat air flow path. A case covers an aperture common to the dehumidified air flow path and the exhaust heat air flow path. An imaging unit is connected to the dehumidifier by a connecting air flow path through which dehumidified air is introduced into the imaging unit from the dehumidified air flow path.

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a flow path forming member that forms a dehumidified air flow path and an exhaust heat air flow path;    a dehumidifier including 
 a cooling-and-dehumidifying member positioned in the dehumidified air flow path, and  
 a heat exhaust member positioned in the exhaust heat air flow path;  
   a case that covers an aperture common to the dehumidified air flow path and the exhaust heat air flow path; and    an imaging unit connected to the dehumidifier by a connecting air flow path through which dehumidified air is introduced into the imaging unit from the dehumidified air flow path.    
   
   
       2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the dehumidifier includes a heat exhaust fan that discharges exhaust heat from the exhaust heat air flow path to outside of the image forming apparatus.  
   
   
       3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the dehumidifier includes a dehumidifying fan provided in front of the cooling-and-dehumidifying member.  
   
   
       4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting air flow path includes a member that filters out foreign particles.  
   
   
       5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust heat air flow path includes a member that filters out foreign particles.  
   
   
       6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the dehumidifier includes a member that filters out foreign particles from both the dehumidified air flow path and the exhaust heat air flow path.  
   
   
       7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust heat air flow path includes an absorption/diffusion member that stores therein dehumidified water.  
   
   
       8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit includes a photoconductor and an image transfer unit adjacent to the photoconductor.  
   
   
       9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit is a process cartridge in which a photoconductor and an image transfer unit adjacent to the photoconductor are integrally combined.  
   
   
       10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit includes transfer paper, a transfer paper transport unit, and a transfer paper container.  
   
   
       11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit includes a color imaging mechanism having independent photoconductors.  
   
   
       12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit includes 
 a humidity detector that detects a relative humidity in the imaging unit, wherein    the dehumidifier dehumidifies air in the dehumidified air flow path when the humidity detected by the humidity detector is a predetermined value or more and supplies dehumidified air to the imaging unit from the case.    
   
   
       13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the imaging unit includes a dust-proof construction in which the dehumidified air introduced from the connecting air flow path is discharged to a downstream exhaust path.  
   
   
       14 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a flow path forming member that forms a dehumidified air flow path and an exhaust heat air flow path;    a dehumidifier including 
 a cooling-and-dehumidifying member positioned in the dehumidified air flow path,  
 a heat exhaust member positioned in the exhaust heat air flow path, and  
 a Peltier element positioned between the cooling-and-dehumidifying member and the heat exhaust member;  
   a case that covers an aperture common to the dehumidified air flow path and the exhaust heat air flow path; and    an imaging unit connected to the dehumidifier by a connecting air flow path through which dehumidified air is introduced into the imaging unit from the dehumidified air flow path.    
   
   
       15 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the dehumidifier includes a heat exhaust fan that discharges exhaust heat from the exhaust heat air flow path to outside of the image forming apparatus.  
   
   
       16 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the dehumidifier includes a dehumidifying fan provided in front of the cooling-and-dehumidifying member.  
   
   
       17 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the dehumidified air sent from the dehumidifying fan is introduced to the imaging unit through the cooling-and-dehumidifying member.  
   
   
       18 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the connecting air flow path includes a member that filters out foreign particles.  
   
   
       19 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the exhaust heat air flow path includes a member that filters out foreign particles.  
   
   
       20 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the dehumidifier includes a member that filters out foreign particles from both the dehumidified air flow path and the exhaust heat air flow path.  
   
   
       21 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the exhaust heat air flow path includes an absorption/diffusion member that stores therein dehumidified water.  
   
   
       22 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the imaging unit includes a photoconductor and an image transfer unit adjacent to the photoconductor.  
   
   
       23 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the imaging unit is a process cartridge in which a photoconductor and an image transfer unit adjacent to the photoconductor are integrally combined.  
   
   
       24 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the imaging unit includes transfer paper, a transfer paper transport unit, and a transfer paper container.  
   
   
       25 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the imaging unit includes a color imaging mechanism having independent photoconductors.  
   
   
       26 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the imaging unit includes 
 a humidity detector that detects a relative humidity in the imaging unit, wherein    the dehumidifier dehumidifies air in the dehumidified air flow path when the humidity detected by the humidity detector is a predetermined value or more and supplies dehumidified air to the imaging unit from the case.    
   
   
       27 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the imaging unit includes a dust-proof construction in which the dehumidified air introduced from the connecting air flow path is discharged to a downstream exhaust path.  
   
   
       28 . An air intake and exhaust system comprising: 
 a flow path forming member that forms a dehumidified air flow path and an exhaust heat air flow path;    a dehumidifier including 
 a cooling-and-dehumidifying member positioned in the dehumidified air flow path, and  
 a heat exhaust member positioned in the exhaust heat air flow path;  
   an inlet port to which the dehumidifier is connected;    a case that covers an aperture common to the dehumidified air flow path and the exhaust heat air flow path;    a connecting air flow path through which dehumidified air is introduced into an imaging unit from the dehumidified air flow path;    a dehumidifying fan that sends an air flow from the dehumidified air flow path to the connecting air flow path; and    a heat exhaust fan that discharges exhaust heat from the exhaust heat air flow path to outside.    
   
   
       29 . The air intake and exhaust system according to  claim 28 , wherein the dehumidifier includes a water absorption member integrally provided in the dehumidified air flow path.  
   
   
       30 . The air intake and exhaust system according to  claim 28 , wherein the dehumidifier evaporates dehumidified water in the exhaust heat air flow path.  
   
   
       31 . The air intake and exhaust system according to  claim 28 , wherein the dehumidifier includes a water absorption/diffusion member integrally provided in the exhaust heat air flow path, and the dehumidifier ventilates the exhaust heat to the water absorption/diffusion member containing dehumidified water to evaporate the dehumidified water.  
   
   
       32 . An air intake and exhaust system comprising: 
 a flow path forming member that forms a dehumidified air flow path and an exhaust heat air flow path;    a dehumidifier including 
 a cooling-and-dehumidifying member positioned in the dehumidified air flow path,  
 a heat exhaust member positioned in the exhaust heat air flow path, and  
 a Peltier element positioned between the cooling-and-dehumidifying member and the heat exhaust member;  
   an inlet port to which the dehumidifier is connected;    a case that covers an aperture common to the dehumidified air flow path and the exhaust heat air flow path;    a connecting air flow path through which dehumidified air is introduced into an imaging unit from the dehumidified air flow path;    a dehumidifying fan that sends an air flow from the dehumidified air flow path to the connecting air flow path; and    a heat exhaust fan that discharges exhaust heat from the exhaust heat air flow path to outside.    
   
   
       33 . The air intake and exhaust system according to  claim 32 , wherein the dehumidifier includes a water absorption member integrally provided in the dehumidified air flow path.  
   
   
       34 . The air intake and exhaust system according to  claim 32 , wherein the dehumidifier evaporates dehumidified water in the exhaust heat air flow path.  
   
   
       35 . The air intake and exhaust system according to  claim 32 , wherein the dehumidifier includes a water absorption/diffusion member integrally provided in the exhaust heat air flow path, and the dehumidifier ventilates the exhaust heat to the water absorption/diffusion member containing dehumidified water to evaporate the dehumidified water.  
   
   
       36 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of imaging units that forms a toner image on an image carrier;    a temperature/humidity detector that detects temperature and humidity in the image forming apparatus;    a temperature/humidity adjusting unit that adjusts temperature and humidity in the image forming apparatus;    a controller that controls the temperature/humidity adjusting unit based on a detection result of the temperature/humidity detector to adjust temperature and humidity to a predetermined range; and    a heat source that generates highest temperature in the image forming apparatus, wherein    the temperature/humidity detector is located near one of the imaging units located furthest from the heat source.    
   
   
       37 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of imaging units that forms a toner image on an image carrier;    a temperature/humidity detector that detects temperature and humidity in each of the imaging units;    a temperature/humidity adjusting unit that adjusts temperature and humidity in each of the imaging units;    a controller that controls the temperature/humidity adjusting unit based on a detection result of the temperature/humidity detector to adjust temperature and humidity to a predetermined range; and    a heat source that generates highest temperature in the image forming apparatus, wherein    the temperature/humidity detector is located in one of the imaging units located furthest from the heat source.    
   
   
       38 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the temperature/humidity detector is located near or in one of the imaging units located furthest from the heat source, and not near any of the other imaging units.  
   
   
       39 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein the temperature/humidity detector is located near or in one of the imaging units located furthest from the heat source, and not near any of the other imaging units.  
   
   
       40 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the imaging unit furthest from the heat source contains a black toner.  
   
   
       41 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein the imaging unit furthest from the heat source contains a black toner.  
   
   
       42 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the heat source is a fixing unit that fixes the toner image on a transfer material by thermo compression bonding.  
   
   
       43 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein the heat source is a fixing unit that fixes the toner image on a transfer material by thermo compression bonding.  
   
   
       44 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the temperature/humidity adjusting unit is a desiccant air conditioner.  
   
   
       45 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the temperature/humidity adjusting unit is an air conditioner using a Peltier element.  
   
   
       46 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein the temperature/humidity adjusting unit is a desiccant air conditioner.  
   
   
       47 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein the temperature/humidity adjusting unit is an air conditioner using a Peltier element.